THE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has clarified that the ₦300 million it received from the Rivers State Government was a gift, not a payment tied to any hosting rights for its 2025 Annual General Conference.
In a statement issued by Emeka Obegolu, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Chairman of the 2025 NBA Conference Planning Committee, the association stated that the decision to hold the conference in Port Harcourt was made in August 2024 without any bidding process or financial requirement.
Obegolu was responding to claims made by the Rivers State Administrator, suggesting that the state government had funded the hosting of the NBA’s 2025 Conference, which was originally scheduled to be held in Port Harcourt.
He explained that due to the high cost of organizing the conference, the Planning Committee routinely seeks financial support from organizations, government agencies, and state governments. However, he emphasized that such support is voluntary and not linked to any entitlement or hosting rights.
The NBA maintained that receiving financial support from a state does not confer any hosting rights, nor does it bind the association to hold its conference in that location.
Meanwhile, the Enugu State Government has confirmed its preparedness to host the 2025 NBA Annual General Conference.
The Chairperson of the Enugu State Tourism Board, Rita Mbah, assured reporters that the state is committed to providing a seamless and memorable experience for attendees. She added that the newly completed Enugu International Conference Centre will serve as the event venue.
The NBA had recently relocated the conference from Rivers State to Enugu following President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of retired naval officer Ibok-ete Ibas as the state’s new administrator, replacing Governor Siminalayi Fubara on March 18, 2025.